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Gwen Verdon

Gwen Verdon

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1925-01-13
Deathday: 2000-10-18 (75 years old)

Biography

Gwyneth Evelyn "Gwen" Verdon was an American actress and dancer. She won four Tony Awards for her musical comedy performances, and served as an uncredited choreographer's assistant and specialty dance coach for theater and film. With flaming red hair and a quaver in her voice, Verdon was a critically acclaimed performer on Broadway from the 1950s-70s. Having originated many roles in musicals she is also strongly identified with her second husband, director–choreographer Bob Fosse, remembered as the dancer–collaborator–muse for whom he choreographed much of his work and as the guardian of his legacy after his death.


By the time she was six, she was already dancing on stage. She went on to study multiple dance forms, ranging from tap, jazz, ballroom and flamenco to Balinese. In 1942, Verdon’s parents asked her to marry family friend and tabloid reporter James Henaghan after he got her pregnant at 17, and she quit her dancing career to raise their child. After her divorce, she entrusted her son Jimmy to the care of her parents. Early on, Verdon found a job as assistant to choreographer Jack Cole. During her five-year employment with Cole, she took small roles in movie musicals as a "specialty dancer" She also taught dance to stars such as Jane Russell, Fernando Lamas, and Lana Turner. Verdon started out on Broadway as a "gypsy," going from one chorus line to another. Her breakthrough role finally came as second female lead in Cole Porter's musical Can-Can. Verdon's biggest success was George Abbott's Damn Yankees. Verdon won another Tony and went to Hollywood to repeat her role in the 1958 movie version Damn Yankees. Verdon won another Tony for her performance in the musical, New Girl in Town, and won her fourth Tony for Redhead. Verdon and Fosse continued to collaborate on projects such as musicals Chicago and Dancin', as well as All That Jazz. After originating the role of Roxie opposite Chita Rivera's Velma Kelly in Chicago, Verdon focused on film acting, playing character roles in movies such as The Cotton Club, Cocoon and its sequel. She continued to teach dance and musical theater and to act. She received three Emmy Award nominations for appearances on Magnum, P.I., Dream On, and Homicide: Life on the Street. Verdon appeared in Alice and Marvin's Room). In 1999, Verdon served as artistic consultant on a Broadway musical designed to showcase examples of classic Fosse choreography, called Fosse. which won a Tony Award for best musical.


Verdon appeared in the movie Walking Across Egypt, as well as Bruno. Verdon received a total of four Tonys, for best featured actress for Can-Can and best leading actress for Damn Yankees, New Girl in Town, and Redhead. She also won a Grammy Award for the cast recording of Redhead.


Verdon was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1981, and in 1998, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

Filmography

all 66

Movies 41

TV Shows 25

self 20

Lola (segment 'Damn Yankees') (archive footage)
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards

Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards (2005)

Movie
Roxie Hart (segment 'Chicago')
Broadway's Lost Treasures

Broadway's Lost Treasures (2003)

Movie
Creative Consultant
Fosse

Fosse (2002)

Movie
Etta Pell, Old Folks Home Resident
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All

Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (1994)

TV
Alice's Mother
Alice

Alice (1990)

Movie
4
Kitty Brewer
Dream On

Dream On (1990)

TV
6
Lola (archive footage)
That's Dancing!

That's Dancing! (1985)

Movie
Maureen Comly
Legs

Legs (1983)

Movie
Self / Self - Co-Host
The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

TV
Self - Presenter / Self - Performer
Tony Awards

Tony Awards (1956)

TV
1
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955)

Movie
Specialty Can-Can Dancer (uncredited)
The Merry Widow

The Merry Widow (1952)

Movie
Girl in Commercial (uncredited)
Dreamboat

Dreamboat (1952)

Movie
Gwen Verdon / Sappho, Dancer in No Talent Joe (uncredited)
Meet Me After the Show

Meet Me After the Show (1951)

Movie
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
David and Bathsheba

David and Bathsheba (1951)

Movie
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
On the Riviera

On the Riviera (1951)

Movie
Self - Mystery Guest
What's My Line?

What's My Line? (1950)

TV
Self - Singer / Dancer
The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)

TV
6
Girl in Nightclub (uncredited)
Blonde from Brooklyn

Blonde from Brooklyn (1945)

Movie
Specialty Ballerina (uncredited)
The King Steps Out

The King Steps Out (1936)

Movie
Gwen VerdonGwen VerdonGwen VerdonGwen Verdon

Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Female

Birthday
1925-01-13

Deathday
2000-10-18 (75 years old)

Birth Name
Gwyneth Evelyn Verdon

Birth Place
Culver City, United States

Relationships
Bob Fosse (1960 - 1987)

Children
Nicole Fosse

Citizenships
United States

Also Known As
Gwyneth Verdon, Gwen Verdun

Awards
Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, National Medal of Arts, Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Library of Congress Living Legend, Drama League Award, Theatre World Award

This article uses material from Wikipedia.

Last updated:

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